The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its fraud prevention efforts with a pilot program designed to reduce out-of-state benefit theft in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While the majority of SNAP benefits are used as intended to provide critical nutrition support to families in need, USDA is committed to rooting out all program fraud, including stolen benefits. This resource describes a pilot to automatically block SNAP transactions in states where participants are unlikely to be shopping but empower participants to activate their card for out-of-state use when needed. It also mentions the ongoing initiatives to strengthen protections for SNAP benefits.

In 2016, the Tribal Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (THV) became the first federal grant program to require a Continuous Quality Improvement Collaborative (CQIC) approach in Tribal early childhood settings. The decision to incorporate the CQIC approach stemmed in part from generally positive experiences of participants in similar initiatives for states, territories, and their local implementing agencies, and from THV grantees’ previous success conducting individual continuous quality improvement (CQI) projects. However, questions remained about the applicability of a CQIC approach in Indigenous settings as a required grant activity. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) conducted a process study of the THV CQIC approach as it was implemented from 2019 to 2022. This OPRE brief presents the findings of the following each research question and to provide implications for future implementation of CQICs in Indigenous contexts:
1. How was the THV CQIC approach implemented?
2. What were the outcomes of the quality improvement work?
3. Was the approach appropriate for Indigenous settings?
4. Was the approach feasible in Indigenous settings?

This Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse snapshot describes the effectiveness of programs that were identified as using education as their primary service. It summarizes these programs and their impacts so Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other program administrators, policymakers, researchers, and the general public can apply the evidence to their context and the questions that matter to them.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse brief discusses some of the key issues facing American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Indigenous families in the United States, particularly fathers. The brief highlights three programs that are working with AI/AN fathers to strengthen their roles in Native families, includes an overview of each program, and provides a discussion of key takeaways to help other programs better serve AI/AN fathers and their families.

In 2016, Congress established the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children with the mandate to study the programs, funding, and supports of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children with the purpose of improving the lives of Native children and youth. The Commission is named after two remarkable advocates of Native children: Alyce Spotted Bear, a highly regarded Native American educator and enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota; and Walter Soboleff, a well-known Tlingit scholar, elder and religious leader. Over several years, the Commission held field hearings and received testimony directly from tribal leaders, youth, elders, and scholars who shared their life experiences and challenges lifting Native communities. This Administration for Native Americans resource highlights recommendations made by the Commission, reflecting the importance of listening to Native communities across the country describe their vision of what will support communities, children, and youth into the future.

This Department of Labor resource provides actionable strategies to boost employment outcomes by aligning and maximizing services and funding resources. Blending, braiding, and sequencing enables TANF front-line staff to partner with state and local workforce partners, creating a collaborative approach to employment support that leverages funding streams and services. The webpage and FAQ provide strategies designed to ensure participants in the workforce system have access to a broader range of coordinated resources and services, helping to create a more seamless and supportive pathway toward long-term employment success.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) resource helps TANF State administrators and front-line staff understand how the Good Jobs Principles empower employers to actively recruit, train, retain, and promote individuals with disabilities by utilizing inclusive practices that benefit all jobseekers. By understanding and utilizing these principles, TANF staff can better support participants in connecting with employers who are committed to building accessible and equitable workplaces and fostering sustainable employment opportunities.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) resource webpage provides TANF staff with an introduction to Customized Employment (CE), a universal design approach that supports people with disabilities in achieving employment success. Through these proven strategies, TANF front-line staff can learn methods to create career opportunities for participants facing multiple employment barriers. The webpage includes a link to “The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application,” which outlines key strategies, techniques, and interventions to increase the capacity and sustainability of CE as a service to individuals in need of the service, and to ultimately increase the number of individuals with disabilities who obtain competitive integrated employment and long-term employment success.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org.